Knife-head for paring-machines.



Patented Feb. I9, I9UH.

' n. F. HUNT.

KNIFE HEAD FOR PARING MACHINES.

(Application filed Feb. 12. 1900.)

Nu Model.)

M Y 9 w n x 1M: norms mans cuv, PNOTOUYNQ, WASHINGTON. n. c.

liters @rnrns ATFNT ruins,

DAVID F. HUNT, OF ANTRIM, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

KNIFE-HEAD FOR PARlNG-MACHINES.

EiPItGIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,407, datedFebruary 19, 1901.

Application filed February 12, 1900. Serial No. 4,895. (No model.)

To (tZZ 2071/0712, it may concern:

Beit known that I, DAVID F. HUNT, of Antrim county of Hillsboro, Stateof New Ham pshire, have invented an Improvement in Knife-Heads forFaring-Machines, of which the following description, in connection withthe accom panying drawings,is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel knife-headfor paring-machines of that type wherein the fruit to be pared issupported on a rotatable fork, while a paring blade or knife, held in asuitable head, is held up against the fruit to pare the rind or skintherefrom.

By means of my invention the knife-blade is held under tension on thehead and its curvature can be readily adjusted to give the desired widthof throat, so that the thickness of the paring can be regulated withgreat nicety.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a well-known form of apple-paringmachine with my pres ent invention embodied therein. Fig. 2 is anenlarged perspective detail of the knife head and blade. Fig. 3 is a topor plan View of the knife-head before attachment of the knifeblade, andFig. 4 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the knife-head.

Referring to Fig. 1, the frame A, to be clamped to a table or othersupport, the main driving-gear B, having a bevel-gear b fast on itsshaft b the fork F, mounted in the frame and rotated by a pinion f, inmesh with gear B, the cam-plate O, mounted to rotate on an uprightjournal in the base of the frame and provided with a bevel ring-gear c,in mesh with the gear 5, and the carrier D, controlled by the cam-plateG to swing first in one and then in the other direction, may be and areof usual and well-known construction. Ears d 011 the carrier receive thepintles h of an upturned head-carrying arm 71 having at its lower end anoffset h to be acted upon by the cam O on the cam-plate C, a spring 3pressing the arm and head toward the fruit on the fork F.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the head as hereinshown comprises a substantially triangular base h, connected at its apexto the arm h and slightly offset or bent relatively thereto, provided ator near its other corners with upturned prongs 7L herein shown asinturncd at their upper ends to form lips h the outer faces of the lipsbeing preferably convexed in the direction of their length. The base isslotted at 8 between the prongs to permit their compression toward eachother, the edge 2 of the base be tween said prongs forming one side ofthe throat t, through which the paring passes under the lips. Lugs 71project from the outer faces of the prongs to enter holes in the knifeand retain the latter in place.

The knife-head is preferably made of malleable iron to secure thenecessary resiliency, and the knife 7c is provided with holes to receivethe lugs 1 which latter are headed down after the knife is in place, thenormal distance between the lugs being somewhat greater than thedistance between the holes in the knife, so that the branches or prongsk must be strained toward each other when applying the knife, the latterbeing thereafter held under tension by the tendency of the prongs toseparate. After the knife is thus secured the prongs h are slightlytwisted until the lips h thereof press upon the back of the knife hardenough to give the desired width of the throat t to regulate thethickness of the paring to be removed. The slotted base increases theresiliency of the head when the prongs are compressed,as described, andthe slot 3 also forms an aperture for the stems and other blemishes topass through without clogging the knife.

The knife is made straight, of very thin steel, thus making a clean andeasy cut, and after it is mounted, as described, it bears hard on theconvex lips 7L3.

A very much thinner steel can be used in accordance with my invention,making the apparatus much easier to operate, and the mode of adjustingthe thickness of the parings is facilitated, the adjustment beingeffected by twisting the prongs 7L throwing the cutting edge of theknife in or out.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown anddescribed, as I have shown only one embodiment of my invention, whichmay be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A knife-head for paring-machines, having resilient knife-supportingprongs provided with inturned lips to rest against the back of theknife, and a knife secured to and held under tension by the prongs.

2. A knife-head for paring-machines, having a slotted base and resilientknife-supporting prongs, and a knife secured to and held under tensionby the prongs, the edge of the base between said prongs forming with theknife-edge a throat for the passage of the paring.

3. A knife-head for paring-machines, having resilient knife-supportingprongs provided with inturned lips convexed on their outer faces, torest against the back of and determine the curvature of the knife, and aknife held under tension by the prongs.

4. A knife-head for paring-machines, comprising a centrally-slotted basehaving 11p turned prongs, one at each side of the slot, provided withinturned lips, lugs on the prongs, and a knife mounted on the lugs andheld under tension by compression of the base, the lips resting againstthe back of and determining the curvature of the knife.

5. A knife-head for paring-machines, having a resilient bifurcatedknife-supporting portion.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID F. HUNT.

